The Goal
Reveal every square that does not contain a mine. A numbered square tells you how many mines are in its neighboring positions, including diagonals. You do not need to uncover the mines.
Read the Numbers
A revealed 1 is touching exactly one mine. A 2 touches exactly two. A number counts all adjacent squares: above, below, left, right and diagonally. Use every revealed clue together rather than relying on a single number.
Example: One Remaining Neighbor
If a revealed 1 has only one covered neighbor and no other unresolved neighbors, that covered square must be a mine. Flag it if the game supports flagging.
Example: All Mines Accounted For
Suppose a revealed 2 touches two squares already identified as mines. All its other covered neighbors are safe, assuming your identifications are correct.
Basic Controls
- Left-click: reveal a square.
- Right-click: mark or unmark a suspected mine in classic desktop versions.
- Face button: usually starts a new game.
- Chording: some editions let you open neighboring cells from a revealed number when the matching count of mines is flagged; the exact gesture varies by version.
This site's game runs inside an emulator. Some mouse shortcuts, keyboard commands and difficulty options may differ from a standalone Windows release.
The 1–2–1 Pattern
When the three numbered squares touch only the three covered cells directly opposite them, with no other unresolved neighbors, the squares opposite the two 1s are mines and the center square is safe:
M ✓ M
Do not apply this pattern merely because you see the digits 1–2–1. It depends on which covered squares each number actually touches.
The 1–2–2–1 Pattern
Under the same closed-edge conditions, the opposite squares are safe, mine, mine, safe:
✓ M M ✓
When You Must Guess
Some mine layouts are ambiguous. If the revealed clues allow more than one possible mine arrangement, no logical deduction may identify a certain safe click. Before guessing, check for information elsewhere on the board and compare the remaining mine counter with all unopened regions.
Play More Carefully
- Start by opening a square, then read all nearby numbers.
- Mark squares only when a deduction proves they contain mines.
- When the number of confirmed surrounding mines equals a clue, open its remaining covered neighbors.
- Review the entire board if local clues stop producing safe moves.